This week on the podcast, Nora sits down with Maine Center for Economic Policy President and CEO Garrett Martin to talk about why tax fairness has become one of the biggest economic issues in Maine and across the country. Nora and Garrett talk about major tax fairness victories in the last legislative session, look at… The post How taxing the rich helps everyone, and how we can do it more first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast, we’re bringing you a special broadcast. Beacon host Cate Blackford sat down with author and advocate Heather McGhee as part of the Authors Guild Foundation’s Pascal Hall Author Series for a conversation about McGhee’s book The Sum of Us and what it can teach us about building solidarity in a… The post What Heather McGhee says we lose when communities are divided first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast, we are sharing the full recording of gubernatorial candidate Shenna Bellows and U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner at a town hall in Old Town hosted by the Maine People’s Alliance (of which Beacon is a project) on May 3, 2026. The two share more on their policy platforms and backgrounds,… The post Who holds politicians accountable? Bellows and Platner point to grassroots organizing first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast, Cate is joined by guest host and legislative strategist Gus Dunn-Hindle to break down the latest in Maine politics and local organizing, from Sanford’s new mobile home park rent cap ordinance to growing rent stabilization efforts across the state. They also discuss MPA’s member-led endorsement process, key endorsed candidates, and… The post Maine voters head into high-profile primaries first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast Esther is joined by Andrea Paluso, Director of The Child Care for Every Family Network, and Charlotte Jacobs, community organizer and former program director of a childcare center. They share how both their experience as experts in the field and as parents has shaped their worldview on why free universal child care is crucial — and how we can… The post What it would take to build a truly universal child care system first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast, Esther is joined by union members and leaders from across Maine for a conversation about why organizing still matters and why more workers are getting involved. Jessie Hargrove, Maine Education Association president; Matthew McDonald, Maine Medical Center nurse and member of the Maine State Nurses Association; and Ally Loukas, pre-K… The post From hospitals to classrooms, Maine unions push for change first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast, Cate and Esther unpack the political and human consequences of Pres. Donald Trump’s threats of war crimes and the fragile ceasefire that followed, examining what it means for global alliances, moral leadership, and the growing financial burden on taxpayers. Closer to home, they break down key parts of Maine’s supplemental… The post What’s at stake with Trump’s war rhetoric and the Maine state budget first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Maine’s housing crisis is hitting some of the state’s most overlooked communities: mobile home parks. In this episode, Cate and Esther take a closer look at how corporate ownership is negatively reshaping these parks, where more than one in five are now owned by out-of-state investors. Residents Juliette St. Amand and Marieke Giasson share what… The post The cost of staying: Maine mobile home park residents pushed to the brink as rent spikes first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Ads in the U.S. Senate race are heating up! This week on the podcast, Esther and Cate break down Gov. Janet Mills’ newest attack ad on fellow Democratic candidate Graham Platner, and how words don’t always align with actions. The also take a look at the text messages between the Portland and South Portland police… The post How Janet Mills’ old-school ad attack missed the mark first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Dr. Nirav Shah joins our host Cate Blackford on the podcast to discuss his run for Maine governor and how his background in public health as the former director of the Maine CDC shapes his approach to leadership. He talks about the importance of competent state governance, clear communication and rebuilding public trust. Shah outlines his plans… The post Nirav Shah on public health, housing and the race for governor first appeared on Maine Beacon.